EP1152168A2 - Step-by-step mechanism with locking device - Google Patents

Abstract

A two way stepping ratchet drive, e.g. for seat adjustment in a vehicle, has an operating lever (22) pivot mounted (38) on a support frame (20) and with two gear segments (32) pivot mounted on the lever to drive a ratchet wheel (30) in either direction. The gear segments are spring loaded (44) to rest against a stop (42) and have pegs (46) which interact with two sprung levers which hold the gear segments in the mid position. Pressing the operating lever in either direction moves the ratchet wheel by a set amount, which is much greater than is obtained by single tooth ratchet drives.

Description

The invention relates to a stepping mechanism with a frame, with a hand lever which is pivotally mounted on the frame about a hand lever axis is, with a locking mechanism that has a toothed adjusting wheel and one in the frame output shaft rotatable about a ratchet axle, with a pair of drivers, which a) each pivotable about a driver axis on Hand levers are articulated, b) one adapted to the adjusting wheel and with it have interacting teeth, c) have a support flank, the an abutment of the frame is adjacent and d) a first elastic means have the two support flanks elastically in contact with the abutment preloaded.

This stepping mechanism previously known from DE 44 00 910 A1 has in proven in practice. The teeth have one each single tooth, except when the hand lever is in the middle position Engagement with the tooth flanks of the adjusting wheel. When swiveling the Hand lever one of the two teeth comes to one of the tooth flanks of the adjusting wheel and turns it. A locking mechanism is provided as a locking mechanism, namely a pinch roller freewheel, this is only an example of the WO 9941101 pointed out.

The hand lever is located in this known stepping mechanism usually in a middle position, in which it is replaced by elastic Means kept. By pushing the hand lever in one direction unlocked the lock and rotated the output shaft in one direction. By repeatedly pressing the hand lever in the same direction of rotation the adjustment process continues. By swiveling the hand lever into the other direction, usually by pulling up the hand lever, becomes an adjustment the output shaft in the other direction. The Step switch is especially for use in adjustment devices determined by vehicle seats.

In the case of the known step-by-step mechanism, the maximum per stroke of the Hand lever achievable angle of rotation of the adjusting wheel is limited by the fact that only one tooth of the toothing with only one tooth of the adjusting wheel interacts and disengages after a certain angle of rotation is coming. The behavior when the actuating forces are reversed is also at Hand lever in need of improvement.

This is where the invention begins. It has set itself the task of going out of the step switch of the type mentioned this to improve that with each stroke of the hand lever the adjusting wheel depending on the angle of this stroke up to a maximum twist can be rotated, the angle of rotation of this maximum rotation is larger than can be achieved with the previously known stepping mechanism.

Starting from the step switch of the type mentioned at the beginning, this is Task solved in that each driver continues e) a pin has that the toothing is designed as a dental arch with several teeth is that on the frame two middle position levers each around a middle position lever axis are pivotally mounted, with each driver a middle position lever is assigned that the middle position levers have a stop flank, which is adjacent to and assigned to a stop surface of the frame, that assigned a second elastic means to the two central position levers is that the stop flank is preloaded elastically against the respective stop surface, and that the middle layer levers each have a guide bay, those for receiving and guiding the pin of the associated driver is formed and which is arranged so that its opening of the Opening of the other guide bay is facing.

Both drivers have several teeth arranged on a dental arch, this is within a larger swivel angle than the State of the art an engagement between the adjusting wheel and that as part of a Gear lever to be viewed with driver possible. The drivers are controlled by their pins through the middle position levers. For this the middle position levers each have a guide bay into which the pin of the dental arch that is not in the drive path. At The hand lever is then returned to the central position via the guide bay the associated driver moves in a controlled manner so that its teeth in the Can engage toothing of the adjusting wheel. While the drivers on Hand levers are articulated, the middle position levers are articulated on the frame.

The middle position levers each have a stop flank that is in the middle position of the hand lever on a stop surface of the frame. By the second elastic means, which is preferably designed as a tension spring the two middle position levers towards each other towards the respective stop surface drawn. This is preferably formed by a web of the frame. Because the middle layer levers over their guide bays and the pins directly act on the associated driver, has the second elastic means also direct impact on the drivers. It causes an elastic Preload of the two dental arches towards each other and is thus in Competition for the first elastic means that the two dental arches are elastic charged away from each other. Now the geometry is set so that the center position lever then with its stop flank on the associated Stop the stop surface when the two dental arches of the driver in Meshing with the teeth of the adjusting wheel. The second elastic means secures So the middle position of the hand lever and indirectly via the Carrier.

In a preferred embodiment, the stepping mechanism is essentially mirror-symmetrical. Mirror plane is a plane through which Hand lever axis and the ratchet axis runs. As a result, the mechanical run Movements in both drive directions from.

In a preferred embodiment, the drivers have around their driver axes a camp game. By the two elastic means, the drivers are like this biased towards each other too elastically, that despite the bearing play normally no rattling occurs.

However, if a driver is to take over the drive, first of all the bearing play consumed before it comes to the drive, that is, before the Driver torque is introduced into the setting wheel. In this way Among other things, a lead is achieved that is the first in a working stroke Path of the working stroke forms and then only active activity connects.

Accordingly, lie in a preferred embodiment for a driver its driving axis and its engagement area at least one of its Teeth on a line that is essentially transverse to the tooth flanks of the at least one tooth. The driving forces have no effect Lifting the teeth of the dental arch out of the teeth of the adjusting wheel, on the contrary, positive engagement of the teeth of the dental arch in the adjusting wheel.

In a preferred embodiment, the pins are essentially on the Center between the driver axis and the engagement area at least a tooth of an engaged dental arch. Are preferred the pins are positioned slightly more towards the hand lever axis than towards the center position lever axles.

In a preferred manner and similar to the closest stand shown The two drivers support the technology with their support flanks an axle stub of the hand lever axis. In the support area is preferred a noise-reducing agent, in particular a rubber pad, intended. As a result, when the hand lever returns to a drive, this return stroke being driven by the second elastic means is still in use, used for the previous drive Slide the dental arch over the teeth of the adjusting wheel by the corresponding one Driver oscillates about its driver axis, without each mechanical Noise can be heard when the support flank hits the abutment is.

In a preferred embodiment, the two drivers are on one side arranged in a plate-shaped frame and are the middle position levers on the other side of this rack. Thereby are in the rack Passages are provided for the cones, which leave the cones free Reach around the air gap. This training enables simple construction, the drivers and the middle position levers remain in the immediate vicinity Proximity to the frame. This eliminates the need for a second bearing plate on the frame and can the plate and the middle layer levers on one side Store the rack.

In a preferred embodiment are in the middle position Hand lever both dental arches in engagement with the adjusting wheel. This causes one mechanical locking of the movement of the adjusting wheel.

It should be noted that the interaction of the carriers and the middle position lever also in a different way than described, especially in kinematic reversal. So the cones can the middle position lever may be provided while the receiving bay is formed on the driver.

Fig. 1:

eine Draufsicht auf das Schrittschaltwerk,

Fig. 2:

eine perspektivische Schrägansicht des Schrittschaltwerks,

Fig. 3:

eine Untersicht des Schrittschaltwerks bei entnommenem, plattenförmigen Gestell und

Fig. 4:

eine Seitenansicht des Schrittschaltwerks.

Further advantages and features of the invention emerge from the remaining claims and the following description of a non-restrictive embodiment of the invention, which is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. In this show:

Fig. 1:

a plan view of the stepping mechanism,

Fig. 2:

a perspective oblique view of the stepping mechanism,

Fig. 3:

a bottom view of the step switch with removed, plate-shaped frame and

Fig. 4:

a side view of the stepper.

As can be seen from the figures, the stepping mechanism has a plate-shaped one Frame 20. There is a hand lever 22 about a hand lever axis 24 pivoted. It can, starting from the one in each of the figures shown middle position, in both directions in the sense of the double arrow be pivoted.

On the frame 20 a locking mechanism 26 is also arranged, which here as a roller clamp locking mechanism is executed. It has an output shaft that is one Ratchet 28 is rotatable and an adjusting wheel 30th

There are two drivers 32 on the hand lever 22 about a driver axis 33 articulated. You have a with the adjusting wheel 30 and with this cooperating toothing in the form of a dental arch 34 Embodiments shown six teeth. Of these, the innermost one is a plane of symmetry 36 next tooth in engagement with teeth of the Adjusting wheel 30. Symmetry plane 36 is defined by the fact that it Hand lever axis 24 and the locking axle 28 passes through.

The drivers 32 also have a support flank 38 with which they normally abut an abutment that is supported by an axle stub 40 the hand lever axis 24 is formed. The system is for example from figure 1 can be seen. There is an O-ring 42 made of rubber around the stub axle 40 placed in a groove of the stub axle 40, the support flanks 38 lie on it on, as can be seen from Figure 1.

The two identical drivers 32, which are arranged in mirror image are formed by a first elastic means 44, which here as a tension spring is so biased against each other that the support flanks 38 on the O-ring 42 of the stub axle 40.

As can be seen in particular from FIG. 1, the drivers 32 have one Bearing clearance around their drive axles. In Figure 1 are clearly crescent-shaped To recognize air gaps.

From the drivers 32 jump pin 46 transversely, which by sufficient reach through large openings in the frame. On these tenons discussed in more detail.

On the other side of the frame 20 are two middle-position levers with mirror symmetry 48 pivoted about center position lever axes 50 on the frame 20. Each driver 32 is assigned a central position lever 48. The Middle position levers 48 each have a stop flank 52, one each Stop surface of the frame 20 is assigned. The stop faces are thereby formed by narrow surfaces of a web 54 made of the sheet material of the hand lever 22 is formed and is bent upwards. The two Middle ply levers 48 are through a second elastic means 56, which in turn is designed as a tension spring, elastically loaded against each other, so that their stop flanks 52 rest against the web 54, as in the figures is shown. In Figure 3, the second elastic means 56 is for simplification not shown in the illustration, but it is from Figure 2 and Figure 4 can be seen.

Each center position lever 48 has a guide bay 58 which is substantially is semicircular and each to the guide bay 58 of the other middle position lever 48 is open. The guide bay 58 is the pin 48 that made Round material is made, adapted, as shown in Figure 3 in particular.

The center position lever axes 50 are in the vicinity of the teeth of the adjusting wheel 30 arranged. A straight line connecting the two central position lever axes 50 intersects a radial of the adjusting wheel 30, which is in an engagement area Tooth of a driver 32 ends. The intersection lies with the area of intervention closer than the center of the adjusting wheel 30. The conditions are about 1 to 2.

As can be seen in particular from Figure 3, the effect of the two elastic Funds 44 and 56 in opposite directions. During the first elastic means 44 the tooth arches 34 of the two drivers 32 are elastically loaded away from one another, the second elastic means 56 does the opposite. The the function of the second elastic means 56 is limited by the stop of the stop flanks 52 on the web 54 and comes in particular then effective when the hand lever 22 is pivoted out of its central position becomes.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the stepping mechanism is essentially made up of flat components made of stamped sheet metal. Like for example FIG. 4 shows the following layer sequence: lie in FIG. 4 the two middle lever 48 above, they are on the top of the one below them located plate-shaped frame 20 arranged. Right under the plate-shaped frame 20 is the hand lever 22. The web 54 of the Hand lever 22 protrudes through a window of the frame 20, so that it with the Stop flanks 52 of the two center position levers 48 can cooperate. The edges of the window also form stop surfaces for the web 54, in this way, in both directions of movement of the hand lever 22nd the maximum swivel angle of the hand lever 22 is limited. Below the Hand lever 22 are the two drivers attached to this 32.

The function is now explained below: The hand lever 22 starts pivoted down from the central position shown in Figure 1, that is Turned clockwise, the air gap in the storage area is first of the right hand driver. The left driver has in the considered movement is not an effective bearing play and is directly from the Engagement in the toothing of the adjusting wheel 30 pivoted out. This hampers he now starts the drive movement by the right driver 32 no more. In continuation of the drive movement by the Hand lever 22 then turns adjusting wheel 30 in the opposite direction clockwise and thus drive the output shaft of the locking mechanism 26. The teeth of the dental arch of the right one come one after the other Driver 32 in engagement with the teeth of the adjusting wheel 30th

The drive of the hand lever 22 in the clockwise direction can stop of the web 54 can be carried out on the window of the frame 20, but it can can also be ended at any position before this stop. It can so any setting operations can be carried out with the stepper.

During the start of the drive process, the pin 46 of the right, driving driver 32 from the guide bay 58 of the associated, right center position lever 48 out. The one hinged to frame 20 Middle position lever cannot follow the movement of the pin 46 because of its Stop surface 52 already abuts web 54. The left middle position lever is swung out against it. The left driver 32, which due to its Storage on the hand lever 22 in FIG. 1 is pulled away to the top left, takes the left middle position lever 48 outwards via its pin 46 with, the pin 46 presses against the action of the second elastic means 56 the left middle position lever 48 towards the top left. It will second elastic means 56 stretched.

As soon as no more force is introduced into the hand lever 22, the Return stroke of the hand lever 22. This is done under the effect of the tense second elastic means 56. The hand lever 22 is thereby automatically moves back to the middle position. It slips now the right driver with his teeth over the teeth of the Setting wheel 30. Since its pin 46 outside the guide bay 58 of the right central position lever 48, the right driver is only under the Effect of the first elastic means 44. On the return stroke it makes small Nodding movements around its support, its support flank 38 moves away several times from the O-ring 42 and abuts against it again.

The left driver 32 becomes elastic under the action of the second Bring back into engagement with the teeth of the adjusting wheel 30 by means of 56, the latter The intervention only takes place at the last moment, shortly before reaching the middle position of the hand lever 22 and switching off the spring force. In conclusion then reached the position shown in Figure 1 again. However, it is the thumbwheel 30 now in a different rotational position.

The direct connection of the two middle position levers 48 via a single elastic Means 56 can be replaced by two individual elastic means, one for each individual center position lever 48 is. The same applies to the first elastic means 44. The embodiment shown however, saves components.

It is crucial for the stepping mechanism that the one in the drive Driver 32 is free from the action of its central position lever 48, so that it is unloaded by the second elastic means 56 during of the return stroke can slip over the teeth of the adjusting wheel 30. The teeth of its dental arch 34 and the corresponding teeth of the adjusting wheel 30 designed so that slipping back over the toothing is possible.

The second elastic means 56 causes a much higher and moreover opposing torque on the drivers 32 as the first elastic Means 44, each with the same deflection of the driver 32. According to the invention as described above, the driver located in the drive 32 released from the action of the second elastic means 56.

The middle position levers 48 come under the action of the second elastic By means of 56 exactly on the web 54 when their dental arches 34 engage are the adjusting wheel 30, which means the intervention according to Figure 1.

Claims (10)

Step switch, in particular for adjusting vehicle seats with a frame (20), with a hand lever (22) which is mounted on the frame (20) so as to be pivotable about a hand lever axis (24), with a locking mechanism (26) which has a toothed setting wheel (30) and an output shaft which can be rotated in the frame (20) about a locking axis (28), it is preferably designed as a locking mechanism, with a pair of drivers (32), which a) are each pivotably articulated on the hand lever (22) about a driver axis, b) have teeth that are adapted to and interact with the adjusting wheel (30), c) have a support flank (38), which is adjacent to an abutment of the frame (20) and d) has a first elastic means (44) which preloads the two support flanks (38) elastically in contact with the abutment (stub axle 40), characterized in that each driver (32) further has e) a pin (46), that the toothing is designed as a dental arch (34) with a plurality of teeth, that on the frame (20) two center position levers (48) each around a center position lever axis (50 ) are pivotally mounted, with each driver (32) being assigned a central position lever (48), that the central position levers (48) have a stop flank (52), each of which is adjacent and assigned a stop surface (web 54) of the hand lever (22), that the two middle position levers are assigned a second elastic means (56), which elastically preloads the stop flank (52) against the respective stop surface, and that the middle position levers (48) each have a guide bay (58), which is used for receiving and guiding the pin (46) of the associated driver (32) and which is arranged such that its opening faces the opening of the other guide bay (58). Stepping mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the two drivers (32) and the two middle position levers (48) are arranged in mirror image to a plane of symmetry (36) extending through the hand lever axis (24) and the locking axle (28). Stepping mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that for a driver (32) a line through its driver axis (33) and through the engagement area of at least one tooth of its engaged dental arch (34) extends essentially transversely to the tooth flanks of this at least one tooth. Stepping mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the pins (46) are arranged substantially in the middle between the driver axis and the engagement area of at least one tooth of an engaged dental arch (34) and that they are positioned somewhat offset to the hand lever axis (24) are. Stepping mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the abutment is formed by an axle stub (40) of the hand lever axis (24) and has a noise-damping means, in particular a rubber pad (O-ring 42). Stepping mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the two dental arches (34) each have at least 5 and preferably 6 to 8 teeth and the center of their arc is on the hand lever axis (24). Stepping mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the two drivers (32) on one side of the plate-shaped frame (20) and the middle position levers (48) are arranged on the other side of the frame (20) and that in the frame (20) passages for the pins (46) are provided which engage around the pin (46) and release an air gap. Stepping mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that a plane running through the two central position lever axes (50) runs through the adjusting wheel (30) and is closer to the engagement region of at least one tooth of an engaged dental arch (34) than the ratchet axis (28), preferably divides a distance between the engagement area and the ratchet axis (28) in a ratio of 10% to 90% to 40% to 60%. Stepping mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the two center position lever axes (50) are located outside the setting wheel (30) but in the vicinity of this setting wheel (30), the distance of the two center position lever axes (50) from the locking axle (28) preferably being 10 is up to 50%, in particular about 25% larger than the outer radius of the adjusting wheel (30). Stepping mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that in a central position of the hand lever (22) both dental arches are in engagement with the adjusting wheel (30).

Images